FATF avoids accountability

We ensure they can’t

A recipe for civil society repression

What FATF terms the ‘Unintended Consequences’ of their recommendations, we see as the inevitable outcome. Its stifling effects on civil society globally are not exceptions, but the norm. We seek to highlight this ‘unintended’ impact of FATF’s work by making this information immediately accessible, countering FATF’s attempts to obfuscate their role and evade responsibility.

Why is this mission needed?

No accountability

FATF does not consider the human rights violations that occur as a result of the enforcement of its recommendations.

This is in contrast with other similarly placed international bodies (such as United Nations Counter-Terrorism groups) that are obliged to ensure that any human rights violation is assessed thoroughly while implementing counter-terrorism mechanisms. Yet, no such standard applies to FATF.

FATF also mandates an elaborate surveillance and reporting system, but has no protection mechanisms against violations of privacy, data protection and non-discrimination.

FATF has eyes everywhere, but no one has eyes on FATF.

Enforcement with a ‘big stick’

If countries fail to follow FATF’s recommendations, they are placed on a “grey” list or “black” list. Being placed on these lists severely limits the countries access to foreign investment.

International financial bodies such as the IMF and the World Bank have embraced FATF recommendations as the global standard for ‘good governance.’ This in turn helps FATF weaponise a countries’ dependence or need for foreign credit. Being subject to the threat of losing foreign investment, countries are repeatedly compelled to implement FATF recommendations.

Providing cover for institutional threats

Counter-terrorism laws have been repeatedly weaponized by governments around the world to clamp down on civil society and free speech. In many of these cases, FATF recommendations were used as the basis to implement draconian laws that violate international human rights standards.

Indeed, such countries are incentivised to do so. The fight against terrorism has been used as a means to curtail freedom of expression and crush dissent. Civil society has been severely impacted as a result of FATF’s recommendations in India, Turkey, and the Philippines. Despite the heightened scrutiny, it is also well documented that governments have continued to channel money to unaccountable oligarchs and failed to hold the most responsible accountable.

Obfuscation and opacity

Through a combination of legal obfuscation and interpretive guidelines, FATF attempts to preemptively address potential issues that could arise from their recommendations, while simultaneously avoiding responsibility to engage with these harms when they occur.

Several civil society groups have attempted to engage with FATF’s process, in order to broaden the space for dialogue and present their viewpoint. Although small victories have been seen, FATF’s approach is fundamentally limited. It has, so far, been impossible to engage with FATF outside their formal communication channels and official documents. These are vaguely phrased, obfuscated in legal terms, and often lack effective enforcement mechanisms, creating a situation where harmful policies can be enacted in the name of compliance without adequate safeguards.

That’s where we come in

Our project seeks to bring together and build on existing work being done by scholars, activists and civil society organisations in order to hold FATF accountable.

We recognise FATF carries disproportionate power and influence, with negligible regulation or accountability.

We report on the severe harm FATF continues to perpetuate around the world both directly and indirectly.

We bring to light, though in-depth research, that FATF’s counter-terrorism recommendations have been, by themselves, often ineffective in countering terrorism.

We will not hold back in asking difficult questions and challenging FATF. We seek to bring a higher standard of accountability by going beyond FATF’s self-defined boundaries of engagement.

We will show in the simplest possible terms all that FATF wants to keep out of the public eye.

Interested in our mission?

Reach out to us today. Stand for justice

Fill in the contact form below, or write to us at eyesonfatf@proton.me

The form has been submitted successfully!

There has been some error while submitting the form. Please verify all form fields again.